Textured Paving

Textured Paving

Textured paving has been very popular for many years, as it is not only non-slip, but the sight
of the surface instils a sense of security in pedestrians when walking across the area. There are
several types of textured paving, one of the best selling of which are concrete products, produced
over the years by several manufacturers, including Marshalls (Saxon range) and Bradstone
(Textured range) in regular sizes, mainly 450mm x 450mm and 600mm x 600mm x 37mm or
50mm thick. They are square edged, and laid butt jointed, with a slight bullnose or rounded
finish, which prevents spalling. (Also available in hexagonal slabs, using the same profile.)

Other types of textured slabs – or more correctly, paving slabs that have been treated and preconditioned to be textured through manufacturing processes include Flame Textured York
stones, which are available in different sizes, usually 50mm or 75mm thick sawn six sides
and then passed under a series of ‘blow-lamps’ which scour the surface to create an attractive
finish to the upper side of the slab. The ‘depth’ of the spalling is controlled by the speed at
which the slab is passed under the flames – the slower the rate, the deeper the texturing.

Other natural stone slabs may be distressed by the use of shot blasting (with sand), bushhammered, bush-chiseled or hand-tooled to create various styles and appearances of textured
finishes to the surface of the slabs.

Textured paving is useful for paving ramps or sloping paths where a high slip rating is required.

Other forms of texturing concrete slabs include brush finished or with striated lines across
the surface, including Blanc de Bierge concrete paving setts which may be suited to modern
styles of garden design, where slip resistant paving is called for.